Web directories are websites that specially designed to give links to other websites on the World Wide Web. Here one thing is important to note that the listing of the websites in a web directory is done categorically. All the listings are done in different categories and sub-categories. The categorization could be based upon content, product or services depending upon the type of the directory. These are one of the finest and easiest resources to get one way and relevant links for a web site.

Type of Web Directories

Web directories can be of many types, some of them are as follows:

General Web Directory: Some lists all type of websites and consists of many categories and sub-categories, which is known as general web directory. A good example of general directory is DMOZ where one can find all type of websites whether it is travel or technology, business or finance and so forth. It uses the entire World Wide Web as its root then does the categorization and list websites accordingly.

Niche Web Directory: Some web directories have restricted itself to a limited industry type, which are known as Niche directories. For example a web directory that lists only Real Estate related websites is called Real Estate web directory. A good example of Niche web directory is Directoryofseolinks, which list only SEO related websites. All industry has hundreds of Niche Directories which can be used for getting benefit in search engine optimization.

Reciprocal link directory: Reciprocal link directories are those which require a link back from the website which is sending inclusion request. In this case both, the reciprocal directory and the website, refer each other.

Bidding Web Directory: Bidding Directories has gained good reputation for its listing criteria. To be listed in a Bidding Directory you require to bid. The minimum bid amount will be given in a field on the inclusion request page, more you bid more upper your position will be in the directory. You may be getting listed on the home page of the directory by bidding the highest amount.

Need of Web Directory

Since one way links play a major role in improving any website's rank in search engine result placement, thus the web directories become more important and significant. To get a good ranking in search engines the most important factor is back links to your website, which is also known as link popularity. Apart from increasing your link popularity a listing in web directory also says that your web site has passed some standards of quality as all the web directories are normally human edited.

Now the question may arise that what is Human Edited web directory? A human edited web directory is that whose proposed link request is reviewed by a human being rather than being reviewed by some sort of automated function or program. All web directories have set some parameters that must be met in order to get listed there. When a proposal of listing is received by the directory administrator, it checks those parameters for the proposed listing and if all the requirements met the website get listed there.

When to Submit

If a website is new or have no presence in search engines, the website owner or webmaster should start submitting it to the web directories than to wait for the web directory owners to come and list. As it is obvious that if your website has no or limited presence in SERP, how come one will find it. So it is you who should initiate this process of suggesting your website to different web directories for inclusion.